Henry J. "Sonny" Poirier, Jr.

Henry J. “Sonny” Poirier, Jr., 84, a lifetime Upton resident, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 in the Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westborough after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  He was the husband to Marilyn Poirier for 17 years. He had also been married to the late Nina (Alger) Poirier for 40 years who passed away in 1993.

Born in Worcester, he was the son of the late Henry J. and Florence (Letourneau) Poirier.  He was raised and educated in Upton and was a graduate of Grafton High School Class of 1951.

Sonny enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a very devoted Catholic and passionate member of the former Holy Angels Church and at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church.

Prior to retirement, Sonny was employed as a Construction Foreman for Upton Fuel & Construction.  He had worked there all his life starting at the age of 10. He also served on the Upton Fire Department for 45 years, having the position of Fire Chief for six of those years.  To him, he never worked a day in his life as he felt work was a hobby.

During his time on the Fire Department, Sonny was part of a team that brought in the first Tanker Truck to Upton, which consisted of donated equipment.  Other activities he enjoyed with the fire department were assisting with the annual clam bakes, and fire musters around New England with the Niagara NO. 2 Hand Tub.

As an active member of Holy Angels and St. Gabriel the Archangel Church communities, Sonny served at Holy Angels on the Parish Council, Maintenance Committee, and as a representative of the Holy Angels Family Life Program of the Worcester Diocese. During the construction of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church he was a member of the Steering Committee.

As an avid member of the community Sonny was a part of the Upton Men’s Bowling league, Upton’s 250th and 275th anniversaries, and assisted the Boy Scouts with transporting their equipment to Treasure Valley. He also served as a constable for several years and was a certified water inspector for the town. He was awarded the Upton Citizen of the Year in 2001.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Henry J. Poirier, III and his wife Sue, of Upton, Elaine Ewing and her late husband Joseph Ewing Jr. of Exeter, ME, Linda Kelly and her husband Dennis, of Lakeland, FL, Janet Badzmierowski and her husband John Sr., of Burrillville, RI, and Pamela Campbell of Upton; 16 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Jane Richards and her husband Robert, of Upton, and John Poirier, Sr. of Upton; several nieces and nephews; four step children; nine step grandchildren; and four step great-grandchildren.

His funeral Mass will be held at 10AM on Saturday, August 4, in St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, 151 Mendon Street, Upton.  Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, August 3, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, in the Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home, Inc., 45 Main Street, Upton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the St. Gabriel Building Fund, made payable to: St. Gabriel Church, 151 Mendon St., Upton, MA 01568 or to the Upton Fire and EMS association, PO Box 580, Upton, MA 01568.